Changes

In the United States, a '''budget resolution''' is [[legislation]] in the form of a [[concurrent resolution]] setting forth the congressional [[budget]]. The '''budget resolution''' establishes various budget tools, divides spending totals into functional categories (e.g., transportation), and may include [[Reconciliation#Budget reconciliation|budget reconciliation]] instructions to designated [[United States House of Representatives|House]] or [[United States Senate|Senate]] [[committee]]s.<ref>[http://www.senate.gov/reference/glossary_term/budget_resolution.htm] US Senate Reference</ref>

In the United States, a '''budget resolution''' is [[legislation]] in the form of a [[concurrent resolution]] setting forth the congressional [[budget]]. The '''budget resolution''' establishes various budget tools, divides spending totals into functional categories (e.g., transportation), and may include [[Reconciliation#Budget reconciliation|budget reconciliation]] instructions to designated [[United States House of Representatives|House]] or [[United States Senate|Senate]] [[committee]]s.<ref>[https://www.senate.gov/reference/glossary_term/budget_resolution.htm] US Senate Reference</ref>

The main purpose of the budget resolution is to provide spending targets for the House and Senate appropriation subcommittees.  Over time, advocates for spending in particular areas are appointed as members of the relevant appropriation subcommittees.  Appropriation Committee members are also visited by many lobbyists encouraging spending on particular programs. (Spending advocates tend to donate campaign funds to the members of the relevant appropriations subcommittee.) So, over time, appropriation subcommittees have tended to add programs and spending to the President's proposed budget rather than working to reduce spending.  If both houses of Congress pass a budget resolution before the appropriation subcommittees begin their work, the subcommittees will have a spending level target from their colleagues as well as from the President.  However, in recent years, the House and the Senate could not agree on spending levels, so each subcommittee wrote its appropriation bill using its own discretion about the spending in its area, and any difference between the House and the Senate had to be resolved in a Conference Committee. In such situations, [[spending authority]] is granted by [[continuing resolution]]  rather than the Budget process as prescribed by law in the Budget Act of 1974.

The main purpose of the budget resolution is to provide spending targets for the House and Senate appropriation subcommittees.  Over time, advocates for spending in particular areas are appointed as members of the relevant appropriation subcommittees.  Appropriation Committee members are also visited by many lobbyists encouraging spending on particular programs. (Spending advocates tend to donate campaign funds to the members of the relevant appropriations subcommittee.) So, over time, appropriation subcommittees have tended to add programs and spending to the President's proposed budget rather than working to reduce spending.  If both houses of Congress pass a budget resolution before the appropriation subcommittees begin their work, the subcommittees will have a spending level target from their colleagues as well as from the President.  However, in recent years, the House and the Senate could not agree on spending levels, so each subcommittee wrote its appropriation bill using its own discretion about the spending in its area, and any difference between the House and the Senate had to be resolved in a Conference Committee. In such situations, [[spending authority]] is granted by [[continuing resolution]]  rather than the Budget process as prescribed by law in the Budget Act of 1974.